Posted March 16, 2020
Updated May 4, 2020
Written by Kyla Isakson
Looking for something to do at home to pass the time? Wareham Land Trust TerraCorps service member Kyla Isakson decided to test out a window greenhouse. Follow along with her progress here and download your own observation sheet to setup your own window greenhouse at home! -Amy Pettigrew
Follow along with Kyla’s seed growth and try it on your own!
Download your own Window Greenhouse-Observation Sheet
Week 0 (March 16, 2020)
For my window greenhouse, I chose to use green pepper seeds that were not soaked overnight. You can use whatever seeds you have available to you. I started by trimming a napkin so it would fit in the small plastic bag. I then dampened the napkin and wrung out the excess water. Next, I labeled my plastic bag with the date, time, and whether the seeds were soaked in water overnight. I placed the napkin in the plastic bag, followed by 5 seeds placed about 1 inch from the bottom. Using masking tape, I hung the plastic bag on a sunny window with the seeds facing inside so that I could easily monitor their progress and growth. Now I have my own window greenhouse to grow green peppers!
I will check on them each week and record my observations.
Week 0 (initial observations)
The seeds are round, white, and show no signs of growth.
Note: If your seeds start sliding towards the bottom of the bag, gently move them back to 1 inch from the bottom. Try to avoid unnecessary disturbances as this could affect the growth of your seeds.
Week 1 (March 23, 2020)
After one week of growing, little has changed in my window greenhouse. I can now see condensation collecting on the bag from the moisture in the paper napkin. I was not entirely expecting to see any growth due to the cooler and cloudy conditions this past week. The seeds might not be getting enough warmth or sunlight to start growing. This week will hopefully have better weather so that I can report some exciting observations. Be sure to check in next week!
The seeds are round, white, and still show no signs of growth. There is condensation on the inside of the bag.
Week 2 (March 30, 2020)
With few warm and sunny days this week, it seems that the growth of the seeds is off to a slow start. I plan to start another window greenhouse with a packet of flower seeds to accompany my green pepper seeds and compare their growth. I will provide updates for both types of seeds. Check back next week!
No new updates from last week. The seeds still show no signs of growth. The same level of condensation is present. A few mold spots have started to form on the napkin.
Week 3-Peppers/Week 0-Morning Glory (April 6, 2020)
Peppers: It is possible that the pepper seeds I planted were dormant. I will continue monitoring.
Morning glory: I have now set up another window greenhouse with morning glory seeds on April 9th. I followed the directions on the seed packet, and soaked them overnight to aid in germination. The seeds will likely emerge between 7 and 21 days, so hopefully, these seeds will show some early signs of growth.
Observations
Peppers: No new updates from last week. The seeds still show no signs of growth. With the warmer weather, the level of condensation has increased. The spots of mold have grown in size.
Morning glory: After soaking the seeds overnight, the seed coat has started to split. The seeds have a dark brown seed coat, and the inner part of the seeds is white. There are no signs of growth.
Week 4 Peppers/Week 1 Morning Glory (April 13, 2020)
Peppers: Upon further research, I have learned that to properly prepare pepper seeds to grow, they should be dried before planting. This could be a possible source of error. It is also possible that the pepper seeds were simply inactive. I have discarded the pepper seeds in the window greenhouse.
Morning glory: Only one day after setting these seeds up, I saw roots starting to emerge from the seeds. After one week, they have grown a lot. They are now ready to be planted in soil either in a garden or a flower pot inside. I properly soaked these seeds to aid in germination, and I think that it would have taken a few more days for them to sprout if I had not done this. I’m really happy with the results of this greenhouse, and I enjoyed trying this project with more than one plant.
Observations
Peppers: No signs of growth.
Morning glory: Signs of growth were visible after one day. The length of the root sprouting increased each day for one week.
Week 2 Morning Glory (April 23, 2020)
There has been significant growth for one of the seeds. The root has increased in length and has started to sprout smaller roots from the sides. The leaves from the same seed have emerged from the seed coat as well. It seems that it will quickly run out of space in the bag. I will watch it closely for any signs of wilting. Three of the four other seeds have roots, but they are much shorter and have started to brown. One seed shows now signs of growth.
Summary
There have been no new signs of growth for any of the seeds. To avoid overcrowding and to promote further growth, I have transplanted the seeds into a pot with potting soil. Now the morning glory seeds can be watered regularly to maintain moisture. Soon, they will begin to grow more leaves and flower in a few weeks. They can also be transplanted into your garden to add a new pop of color. I hope you enjoyed watching your seeds grow! Don’t forget to share your experience with us!
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